Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[chickadee5002]

I have a question... how do I know when it's time to take the gate away for the little ones to get away from the big ones? I imagine they would want it there forever but I'm pretty sure I gotta just go for it one of these days.
The little ones are 12 weeks old and the CCL are nearly as tall as the smallest older girls and my EE's aren't far behind. They would still have a few other places to sort of hide if needed. They still sleep in their own coop and that won't change until about mid Sept. I plan on rehoming about 3 of the older girls, I assume my Silkie is a boy so then I would be moving 6 younger ones (at that point they would be 5 months old) in with 6-8 older ones.

I started letting them mingle when my babies were 10 weeks old but they were in separate coops. They all free range so I would let the babies out only when I was there to watch and make sure everything was ok. When they were 12 weeks old I let them free range together. They are 17 weeks old today and they are in the same coop now. The only problem I have right now is Butch my BO has 4 babies that are 5 weeks old and she is VERY protective of her kids so she likes to chase the 17 week olds even when they are not even close to her or the babies! She will sneak up on them and start chasing them! Hopefully when she is done raising her babies she will get back to normal. But I wouldn't wait to long I think its better to start them younger and they also learn from the older flock. which isn't always good

 

[rnchick74]

So exciting! Have a safe trip and enjoy the time with your son!!

I'm so freaking excited...except for the long drive - not real excited about that!

 

[NotableNancy]

No better time than the present!

Mine are mingled now. The older ones are 11 weeks old and the younger ones are 7 weeks.

They are getting along as expected and no injuries to report.

The littles wait until the bigs are roosted and then have the run of the coop exploring. They even roost next to the bigs sometimes.

Good luck!

I agree. My little boy is 15 weeks. I removed his favorite hiding spot a few weeks ago, but I did add a roost for him near that spot. He's doing good but does not roost with the girls yet.

I started letting them mingle when my babies were 10 weeks old but they were in separate coops. They all free range so I would let the babies out only when I was there to watch and make sure everything was ok. When they were 12 weeks old I let them free range together. They are 17 weeks old today and they are in the same coop now. The only problem I have right now is Butch my BO has 4 babies that are 5 weeks old and she is VERY protective of her kids so she likes to chase the 17 week olds even when they are not even close to her or the babies! She will sneak up on them and start chasing them! Hopefully when she is done raising her babies she will get back to normal. But I wouldn't wait to long I think its better to start them younger and they also learn from the older flock. which isn't always good

I knew I wasn't going to explain that right.... They all mingle now in the big run but I just have a little spot blocked off that the little ones can get to but the big ones can't. I was just wondering when I should take that away. I feel like as long as I have that spot they will use it and maybe not mingle as much as they should?? Like Christine said, a 'favorite hiding spot' but it's a whole corner of the coop.

For the most part they are getting along but thats because the little ones just stay out of the big ones way. Seems like my Silkie can do as 'he' pleases and eats their treats/food with them but the girls they chase away from the treats. But from what I've heard that may happen forever?
So, no blood drawn. Just chasing and pecking. Sometimes it seems like it's for no reason... but I guess I'm not a chicken so maybe I don't know their reasons. LOL

 

[rnchick74]

Meyer has blue amaruacanas availible to be shipped today 17 females right now!!!!!

Someone here better snatch up one of those!!!

 

[rnchick74]

I know!! They have all the breeds I want this week but I'm really not ready yet... but so tempted.

JUST DO IT!!!!!

 

[rnchick74]

So now we are down to HOURS!!! On the agenda: cleaning the car out, packing some snacks, movies for the little man, cleaning brooder, and washing the feet of the nasty silkies!

THEN TO BED EARLY!!!

Can't wait! I will post pics and updates and I'm able tomorrow!!!!

 

[chickadee5002]

I knew I wasn't going to explain that right....  They all mingle now in the big run but I just have a little spot blocked off that the little ones can get to but the big ones can't. I was just wondering when I should take that away.  I feel like as long as I have that spot they will use it and maybe not mingle as much as they should??   Like Christine said, a 'favorite hiding spot' but it's a whole corner of the coop. 

For the most part they are getting along but thats because the little ones just stay out of the big ones way.  Seems like my Silkie can do as 'he' pleases and eats their treats/food with them but the girls they chase away from the treats. But from what I've heard that may happen forever?
So, no blood drawn. Just chasing and pecking. Sometimes it seems like it's for no reason... but I guess I'm not a chicken so maybe I don't know their reasons. LOL

I found that in the beginning there was a lot of hen pecking. The big girls didn't like sharing with the little girls but they seem to be better now. I think they have to get used to being together. I would take down the barricade IMO just so they are forced to be together so they get their pecking order in place.

 

[NotableNancy]

So now we are down to HOURS!!! On the agenda: cleaning the car out, packing some snacks, movies for the little man, cleaning brooder, and washing the feet of the nasty silkies!

THEN TO BED EARLY!!!

Can't wait! I will post pics and updates and I'm able tomorrow!!!!

LOL.... for some reason I thought as soon as you got the email you were hopping in the car!!! I guess planning a little is a better idea. Especially with a little man along for the ride.




OK....

I may change my order... kind of a half way between spur of the moment and planning...

Well, I guess that's still planning but it's the best I can do.

Rather than the week of Sept 8th... they have almost everything I want the week of Aug 5th!!

1 Buff Orpington
1 Exchequer Leghorn
3 Golden Buff
1 Speckled Sussex and
1 Silver Laced Wyandotte

or I could get a White Leghorn instead of a SLW cause they have that too. I have always wanted those big white eggs but not the loud hen that goes along with it. So that's still a bit iffy.

A bit of a change because I won't get a rare Marans or a White Leghorn or an EE but instead will get a SS and SLW which are soooo pretty and the EL rather than the WL which is fine by me. And a BO which really, I have wanted for a long time and seeing all of the pics of yours makes me want one even more!!

So it just changes everything by about a month which I think is doable.

I may have to call tomorrow

Everyone that has a SS... do they lay well or just kinda average.

 

[rnchick74]

LOL.... for some reason I thought as soon as you got the email you were hopping in the car!!! I guess planning a little is a better idea. Especially with a little man along for the ride.




OK....

I may change my order... kind of a half way between spur of the moment and planning...

Well, I guess that's still planning but it's the best I can do.

Rather than the week of Sept 8th... they have almost everything I want the week of Aug 5th!!

1 Buff Orpington
1 Exchequer Leghorn
3 Golden Buff
1 Speckled Sussex and
1 Silver Laced Wyandotte

or I could get a White Leghorn instead of a SLW cause they have that too. I have always wanted those big white eggs but not the loud hen that goes along with it. So that's still a bit iffy.

A bit of a change because I won't get a rare Marans or a White Leghorn or an EE but instead will get a SS and SLW which are soooo pretty and the EL rather than the WL which is fine by me. And a BO which really, I have wanted for a long time and seeing all of the pics of yours makes me want one even more!!

So it just changes everything by about a month which I think is doable.

I may have to call tomorrow

Everyone that has a SS... do they lay well or just kinda average.

LOL!!! No, it's a 4-4.5 hr drive each way!!! We are getting up before dawn & setting out on the road before the sun is up though! Tomorrow is the big day! We have a Collette, Belle, Esmerelda, Flora, Pippa or Beatrix, Penny or Poppy, and Doc McCluckins to pic up!

 

[christine9]

I knew I wasn't going to explain that right....  They all mingle now in the big run but I just have a little spot blocked off that the little ones can get to but the big ones can't. I was just wondering when I should take that away.  I feel like as long as I have that spot they will use it and maybe not mingle as much as they should??   Like Christine said, a 'favorite hiding spot' but it's a whole corner of the coop. 

For the most part they are getting along but thats because the little ones just stay out of the big ones way.  Seems like my Silkie can do as 'he' pleases and eats their treats/food with them but the girls they chase away from the treats. But from what I've heard that may happen forever?
So, no blood drawn. Just chasing and pecking. Sometimes it seems like it's for no reason... but I guess I'm not a chicken so maybe I don't know their reasons. LOL

Mine still do that to Peppy. I felt the same way with him. I thought he'd never be one of them until he didn't have a place to hide. You'll know right away if it's too soon. When I first took away his spot, the girls had him cornered with his head down. That told me it was too soon. It was about 11 or 12 weeks old that I took his hiding spot away without worrying about him. The girls still go after him for what seems like no reason at all. He just stays away from them most of the time.